befriending

verb

present participle of befriend
as in joining
to become a friend to (someone) He befriended the new student.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of befriending Gigi had joined Hollis’ girls’ weekend after befriending her online out of complicated guilt over her affair with Matthew. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026 Yes, many passengers on these upscale brief sailings enjoy a drink or two, but befriending a bartender isn’t the mission. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 15 July 2026 Henrietta also had a particular fondness for befriending young women, and disseminating scientific works and sharing knowledge with them. — Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 9 July 2026 Living in Rio de Janeiro, Luiza dreams of being an artist, eventually befriending a local graffiti group. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 16 June 2026 Utterback, who’d just gotten married and bought a house in Omaha, instead devoted himself to learning on his own, poring over books, making regular trips to Japan, and befriending masters of the craft. — Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 Palmer-Tomkinson was friends with both William and Prince Harry, befriending them in childhood. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 29 May 2026 Conrad Weiser was a Pennsylvania German who had roamed the frontier for decades, learning the Indian languages and befriending Indian leaders, including some who encountered Washington in Ohio. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Things take a turn when Snow, 40, who plays Sophie, moves to Texas and tries befriending the group of East Texas socialites — only for a teen girl named Abby to turn up dead. — Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriending
  1. joining
  2. traveling
  3. connecting
Verb
  • But those concerns didn’t stop groups of Catholics from joining a recent joyous pilgrimage on Mount Tabor, where the Gospels say Jesus appeared transfigured alongside the Jewish prophets Moses and Elijah.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • On climate, liberals would offer tax rewards for green energy, support joining climate pacts, and phasing out fossil fuels gradually over decades.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of joining
Verb
  • And for broadcast leaders, please keep investing in reporters and tools to serve the traveling public.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The Toyota sideswiped another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and lost control, striking Bowling near 35th Avenue and Mangels Avenue, the Oakland police previously told PEOPLE.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of traveling
Verb
  • Brightpoint, meanwhile, helps identify local families in crisis, and a team of volunteers coordinates the work of connecting needs to helpers.
    — Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The original film was more about the connections baseball builds in families, particularly between fathers and sons, and Costner was a key to the emotional and evocative feeling connecting all in attendance and watching on TV.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of connecting

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befriending
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Cite this Entry

“Befriending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriending. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on befriending

Nglish: Translation of befriending for Spanish Speakers

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